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Yarmuth Statement on U.S. Census Bureau Reports on Income, Poverty and Health Coverage

Sep 12, 2017

Reports Reinforce Immense Progress Country Made Under President Obama and Congressional Democrats & the Dangers of the Trump/GOP Agenda

Washington, D.C.—Kentucky Congressman John Yarmuth, the Ranking Member on the House Budget Committee, released the following statement on today’s announcement by the U.S. Census Bureau that median household incomes increased by 3.2 percent in 2016 while the health care uninsured rate declined and the poverty rate reached pre-recession levels.

“Today’s reports from the U.S. Census Bureau reinforce the immense progress our country made under President Obama and the leadership of Democrats in Congress. This progress is not by accident nor was it guaranteed. Democrats made the tough choices following the financial crisis to focus on policies that supported American families hit by hard times, grew the economy, protected consumers and expanded access to health coverage. Those choices paid off—household income for middle class families rose in 2016 while the percentage of Americans without health insurance reached historic lows.

“Unfortunately, all of these gains are now being threatened by President Trump and Congressional Republicans, whose budgets jeopardize the future of millions of families and gut critical economic and anti-poverty investments. We need to be building on the success of the past eight years, not abandoning the progress we have made as a country and the American people who worked so hard to get us there.”